Protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, characterized in that the protective cover is a fan-like body formed as a unit and the two end edges of the protective cover are respectively mounted to a protruded plate, the inner edge of the protruded plate is mounted with a clipping plate such that the two end edges of the protective cover is formed into an engaging recess for direct mounting of a panel board, thereby the protective cover structure with a panel frame having an arc angle of the billiard table is obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to structure of billiard table andin particular, a protective cover for mounting with the panel frame of abilliard table. The panel frame is secured and tightened to theprotective cover, and decorative plates mounted onto the panel framewill not be dislocated.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In order to avoid formation of a sharp angle at the panel frame,the corners of the panel frame are provided with an arc-shaped angle.The conventional panel frames are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For suchdesigns, in order to reduce or save cost of material and reduce theweight of the billiard table, the adjacent panel boards 10, 20 aremounted at right angle and in order to have an arc-shaped structure,normally an inner board 11, 21 is mounted within the inner edge of theend section of the panel boards 10, 20. After that the end section ismodified to include a plurality of decorative plates 12, 22 to providean aesthetic appearance to the billiard table. In order to secure theadjacent panel boards 10, 20, a plurality of screws 16, 26 are used tolock an L-shaped corner board 15, 25 to the inner wall of the innerboards 11, 21. Finally, bolt 30 and nut 35 are used to tighten theseparts together and an arc-shaped corner is thus formed.

[0005] These conventional panel board structures has drawbacks asfollows:

[0006] 1) Loosening of the Panel Frame

[0007] The mounting of the adjacent panel boards 10, 20 is done by thecorner plates 15, 25 and these corner plates 15, 25 are normally madefrom metal, and therefore, after some time of use, the metal will becomefatigue and will not effectively in pulling the two panel boards 10, 20to each other. This will affect the stability of the billiard table.

[0008] 2) Dislocation of the Decorative Plates

[0009] The decorative plates 12, 22 are directly mounted onto thesurface of the panel boards 10, 20 without other securing device. Aftersome time of use, due to the aging of the adhesive material used toadhere the boards and the plates, the decorative plates 12, 22 will dropoff from the edge of the panel boards 10, 20 and the entire appearanceof the billiard table is affected.

[0010] 3) Manufacturing and Assembly Process are Complicated

[0011] In manufacturing the panel frame, the inner side of the panelboard 10, 20 is provided with the inner boards 11, 21. It is requiredthat the panel board 10, 20 is corresponding to the inner boards 11, 21in order to form a smooth arc-shaped structure. However, this is ratherdifficult to achieve. Besides, the number of the components for suchstructure is numerous and to provide a corner plates 15, 25 to the inneredge of the panel boards 10, 20, are rather difficult. As a result, thecost of a billiard table is rather high.

[0012] It is a main object of the present invention to provide aprotective cover for panel frame of a billiard table which can mitigatethe above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, wherein thebilliard table with such protective cover has a greater stability andthe economic value of the billiard table is greatly improved.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide aprotective cover for panel frame of a billiard table, characterized inthat the protective cover is a fan-like body formed as a unit and thetwo end edges of the protective cover are respectively mounted to aprotruded plate, and the inner edge of the protruded plate is mountedwith a clipping plate such that the two end edges of the protectivecover are formed into an engaging recess for direct mounting of a panelboard, thereby the protective cover structure with a panel frame havingan arc-shaped angle of the billiard table is obtained.

[0015] Other objectives which can be achieved in accordance with thepresent invention are as follows:

[0016] 1) The stability of the panel frame is greatly increased and thelongevity of the billiard table is comparative longer.

[0017] 2) The manufacturing and assembly processes of the panel frameare simplified and the cost of manufacturing the billiard table isreduced.

[0018] The foregoing objects and summary provide only a briefintroduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these andother objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself,all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, thefollowing detailed description of the invention and the claims should beread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout thespecification and drawings identical reference numerals refer toidentical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of thepresent invention will become manifest to those versed in the art uponmaking reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheetsof drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating theprinciples of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional panelframe illustrating the assembly thereof and the formation of arc angle.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional panel frameillustrating the formation of corners of the panel frame and theirrelative position.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of theprotective cover, in accordance with the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view showing the assembly of theprotective cover with the panel frame in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a cut-away schematic view of the protective covermounted with the panel frame in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principlesof the invention, reference will now be made to the embodimentillustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describesame. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of thescope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated herein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a protective cover 50 forpanel frame of a billiard table. The protective cover 50 issubstantially a fan-like body which is used to form an arc-shaped anglefor the panel frame of the billiard table. The two end edges of theprotective cover 50 are provided respectively with a protruded plate 51and the inner edge of the protruded plate 51 is provided with a L-shapedclipping plate 52 and formed as a unit, such that the two end edges ofthe protective cover 50 are formed into an engaging slot 53 by thecombination of the protruded plate 51 and the clipping plate 52. Thewidth of the engaging slot 53 is about the total thickness of that ofthe panel boards 60, 70 and that of the decorative plates 65, 75. Theinner edge of the clipping plate 52 of the protective cover 50 is formedinto a pillar 54 having screw hole. By using a bolt 55, the protectivecover 50 is directly mounted at the panel boards 60, 70. Furthermore,the bottom edges of the clipping plate 52 and the protruded plate 51 areconnected to a carried plate 56 so as to support the panel boards 60, 70to improve the stability of the panel boards 60, 70. Accordingly, aprotective cover 50 for the panel frame with an arc-shaped angel isobtained.

[0026] In accordance with the present invention, when the protectivecover 50 is to be mounted onto the billiard table, as shown in FIGS. 4and 5, a plurality of decorative plates 65, 75 are mounted onto thesurface of the panel boards 60, 70. Next, the panel boards 60, 70 withdecorative plates 65,75 are respectively mounted at the engaging slot 53at the two end edges of the protective cover 50. Finally, a bolt 55 isused to mount through the screw-hole pillar 54 of the clipping plate 52so that the panel boards 60, 70 are mounted onto the protective cover50.

[0027] In view of the present invention, the following objectives andeffectiveness are obtained.

[0028] 1) Stability of the Panel Frame

[0029] As the protective cover 50 is formed as a unit and the panelboards 60, 70 are directly mounted to the two end edges of theprotective cover 50, the drawback of fatigue of the cornering plate willnot occur. This effectively enhances the stability of the panel frameand the entire panel frame will not become loose and the longevity ofthe billiard table is preserved.

[0030] 2) The Adhesion of the Decorative Plates

[0031] The decorative plates 65, 75 of the panel boards 60, 70 arefirmly secured by the protective cover 50. Even if the adhesive of theprotective plates is deteriorated, the decorative plates 65, 75 arecompressed by the protruded plate 51 and the decorative plates will notdislocate. Thus, the longevity and utility of the billiard table areimproved.

[0032] 3) Manufacturing and Assembly

[0033] The formation of the protective cover 50 as one unit does notrequire additional manufacturing process, and therefore the elements forthe entire panel frame are greatly reduced. As for assembly of theelements, only the engaging and screwing process are required for theassembly of the panel boards 60, 70. As compared to the conventionalart, the present invention has simplified the method of manufacturingand assembly.

[0034] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together may also find a useful application in othertypes of methods differing from the type described above.

[0035] While certain novel features of this invention have been shownand described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is notintended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understoodthat various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table,characterized in that the protective cover is a fan-like body formed asa unit and the two end edges of the protective cover are respectivelymounted to a protruded plate, the inner edge of the protruded plate ismounted with a clipping plate such that the two end edges of theprotective cover is formed into an engaging recess for direct mountingof a panel board, thereby the protective cover structure with a panelframe having an arc-shaped angle of the billiard table is obtained.
 2. Aprotective cover for panel frame of a billiard table as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the width of the engaging recess of the protectivecover is equal to the total thickness of the panel board together with adecorative plate to enhance the tightening and appearance of the panelboard.
 3. A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table as setforth in claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the clipping plate of theprotective cover is provided with screw hole pillars having a throughscrew hole for the mounting of the panel board with screws or bolts. 4.A protective cover for panel frame of a billiard table as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the bottom edges of the protruded plate and theclipping plate are connected to a carried plate to enhance the stabilityof the panel frame.